The Situation
Silver and Bighead carp, often known collectively as "Asian Carp," were introduced to the United States in the 1970s to control algae in fish farms, but escaped into wild waters soon after. Since then they have expanded tremendously both in range and in population, entering countless rivers and reservoirs in the Mississippi basin and outnumbering all other fish combined in some bodies of water (Sass). The ability of Asian carp to outcompete native species is largely due to its diet-- it is a highly specialized filter feeder on plankton. Plankton would normally be consumed by small fish like gizzard shad and minnows, which would in turn serve as food for predatory game species like crappie, black bass, walleye, and catfish. However, when the plankton is consumed by large fish like Asian carp, which average a couple feet in length and in rare cases can exceed 100 pounds, then the game fish have nothing to forage on. The fact that Asian carp are filter feeders also means that they will not take a bait, and cannot be used as a sport fish.
Both for their destruction of native fish populations and for their dangerous tendency to jump when startled by boat motors, silver carp have long been considered a serious threat deserving serious attention. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has built electric and physical barriers to keep Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, and a number of long, detailed plans for the control of Asian carp have been developed (see examples from 2007, 2012, and 2014). Each of these plans suggests that one viable way to reduce their population would be through commercial fishing, and that method rings true, since large populations Asian carp have been decimated by commercial fishing in their native range, where they are immensely popular food fish. However, the commercial fishery for Asian carp in America has never gotten off the ground, since there is very little American market for their meat. Asian carp continue to run rampant.
Both for their destruction of native fish populations and for their dangerous tendency to jump when startled by boat motors, silver carp have long been considered a serious threat deserving serious attention. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has built electric and physical barriers to keep Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, and a number of long, detailed plans for the control of Asian carp have been developed (see examples from 2007, 2012, and 2014). Each of these plans suggests that one viable way to reduce their population would be through commercial fishing, and that method rings true, since large populations Asian carp have been decimated by commercial fishing in their native range, where they are immensely popular food fish. However, the commercial fishery for Asian carp in America has never gotten off the ground, since there is very little American market for their meat. Asian carp continue to run rampant.
The Solution
Americans need to show themselves willing to eat Asian carp. Carp are more commonly farmed for food than any other fish in the world, so they are clearly considered good eating in other countries. Chefs have described their meat as mild, light, flaky, and delicious. It is ironic, then, that Americans buy expensive fish like cod, salmon, snapper and tuna caught from struggling wild populations, when we could be eating equally palatable Asian carp, and actually helping native fish populations by doing so. The absurd abundance of Asian carp should make it an affordable, high-protein food source, and since it feeds low in the food pyramid, its levels of mercury and other contaminants are low (Rogowski). Furthermore, a market for silver carp would not only create local commercial fishing jobs in the short term, but in the long term would protect America's 35 billion dollar sport fishing industry. There is every reason to start eating silver and bighead carp, and no reason not to.
This site was created by Joey Benevento in Emory University's Domain of One's Own Program as part of an English 212W class with Professor Marc Bousquet.
This site was created by Joey Benevento in Emory University's Domain of One's Own Program as part of an English 212W class with Professor Marc Bousquet.